§15-3E-2. Findings and declarations relative to Green Alert Plan.

(a) The Legislature finds that:

(1) According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 20 veterans commit suicide each day across the country;

(2) While veterans make up less than nine percent of the total U.S. population, tragically, they account for 19 percent of all suicides in America;

(3) By establishing the Green Alert Plan, law enforcement will be provided with additional tools that will help them in responding to an at-risk veteran’s disappearance and place an emphasis on the risk of suicide for veterans with a service-related condition;

(4) The Green Alert Plan would also allow for a more rapid dissemination of information on the missing at-risk veteran to the public, who, having been alerted to the situation, now become an extensive network of eyes and ears serving to assist law enforcement in quickly locating and safely recovering a missing at-risk veteran, and potentially saving them serious injury or suicide; and

(5) Given the success of both the Amber and Silver Alert systems, expanding the program to include at-risk veterans is imperative to help those who have served.

(b) The Legislature declares that creating a Green Alert is a way to prevent more tragedies and help ensure our veterans get back home safely.